The state Department of Health and Human Services is asking that anyone who had surgery at Exeter Hospital or were admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit from April 1, 2011 to May 25, 2012 be tested for the virus.
“We have acquired some information that suggests the person that we believed caused this particular event had access to these rooms,” said Dr. José Montero, director of public health at the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Affected patients can expect letters this week. According to Dr. Montero, he expects that a lot less people will test positive. Out patient surgical procedures are not included in this round of tests.
According to SeacoastOnline.com, to deal with the large number of people that need to be tested, special testing clinics will be set up at Exeter High School starting this weekend.
The clinics will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, and from noon to 8 p.m. next Monday and Tuesday, July 30 and 31.
Those who do not want to take part in the testing clinic can get tested by their primary doctors but those doctors must submit the positive results to the state for reporting, according to Montero.
A special public meeting will be held to answer additional questions at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 26 at Exeter High School.
Montero explained that the state will be using a special “rapid test” that displays results within 20 to 40 minutes if a patient tests negative. Those who don’t test negative, will require additional testing. He said the rapid testing is like a glucose reading where a person has their blood drawn by getting their finger pricked.
He said this method of testing wasn’t used in the last phase of testing involving Exeter Hospital cardiac catheterization lab patients. That is due to the fact that the state needed more comprehensive data from the blood samples at the beginning of its investigation. Unlike previous testing that was managed by Exeter Hospital, this testing will be conducted by the DPHS (Division of Public Health Services).
We expect there to be additional legal action from the 6,000 new patients that need to be tested. They all have a claim for infliction of emotional distress and negligence because they’re going to suffer pain and emotional distress as a result.
McGrath Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms in Kansas and nationwide.
Have you or someone you know been affected by the Hepatitis C outbreak? Do you want to know your legal rights? Call Attorney Peter G. McGrath at (800) 283 1380 or (603) 224-7111 or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com to learn about your legal rights!! We get results!!!